Irvine's Swamp of the Frogs gone but not forgotten

When I was writing my book, "Irvine: Images of America," I was repeatedly asked the same question.

"Why?"

"The city is only 40 years old," they would say. "There's no history in Irvine."

The truth is, Irvine and its Orange County neighbors share a rich history that dates back hundreds of years.

Long before there were master-planned communities and multi-lane freeways, the landscape of Irvine was quite different. Today's neighborhoods and business parks were once citrus groves and cattle ranges.

During the Rancho Era, the southern portion of the city near UCI was a marshland labeled "The Swamp of the Frogs," because the sound of the croaking was an audible landmark to nighttime travelers.

The Great Park was once the El Toro Marine Base, which was once one of the most productive lima bean fields in the world.

You only need to read the street names in Irvine to get a lesson in its history: Culver, Jeffrey, Jamboree, Michelson. They all refer to the people and events that shaped the current city.

The greatest influence came from the family that gave the city its name. The Irvine family members were the stewards of this land that they owned for nearly 100 years. Decisions made by James Irvine back in 1874 set the foundation for the city that was to come nearly 100 years later.

Through four generations, the Irvines worked hard to keep their landholding intact, making the revolutionary planned community of today possible.

Irvine, a city of more than 200,000 residents, did not occur by accident. There was a long chain of events that directly created the community we enjoy today.

Through the years, change has been the only constant in Irvine, and anyone who has lived here for a while knows that things are still changing.

As a docent at the Irvine Historical Museum, I and other volunteers work to preserve our city's past, making it possible for long-time locals to revisit the good old days, and for newcomers to learn the history of their adopted hometown.

Why do we do it? Why is it so important to focus on the past?

The past is the only way we can make sense of the present. It gives us a foundation for why the things are what they are. It also gives us an appreciation for the work and wisdom of those who were here before us.

If you'd like to explore Irvine's rich history, visit the museum at 5 San Joaquin. If you'd like to support the museum's work, you can become a member of the Irvine Historical Society. Individual annual membership is $20 and is tax-deductible.